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Rights group to UN: Atheists face discrimination the world over

Atheists, humanists and freethinkers face widespread discrimination around the world with expression of their views criminalized and subject in some countries to capital punishment, the United Nations was told on Monday.

In a document for consideration by the world body’s Human Rights Council, a global organization linking people who reject religion said atheism was banned by law in a number of states where people were forced to officially adopt a faith.

“Extensive discrimination by governments against atheists, humanists and the non-religious occurs worldwide,” declared the grouping, the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) which has some 120 member bodies in 45 countries.

In Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan “atheists can face the death penalty on the grounds of their belief” although this was in violation of U.N. human rights accords, the IHEU said.

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In Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Sudan “atheists can face the death penalty on the grounds of their belief” although this was in violation of U.N. human rights accords, the IHEU said.

1. Everybody besides Muslims can face the death penalty for their beliefs. You’re not special.

Considering how atheist groups in this country sympathized and defended Stalin’s and Mao’s wholesale persecution of Christians and Jews… and how modern atheist groups are using the state to expurgate Judeo-Christian faiths and culture, it’s hard for me to feel much sympathy.

Exactly. Atheists think they’re so flipping special because they refuse everyone’s god instead of all but one or a few.

As in politics, there is no such thing as a neutral corner in religion.

MelonCollie on February 26, 2013 at 11:24 AM

That’s my problem with the vocal ones. They think they are just so much better than a believer and have no problem telling them so or belittling them. I’ve known many atheists some who just didn’t care and even celebrated Xmas and went to church on occasion just to make their spouse happy. Then there are the, for lack of a better description, a$$holes that are in your face belittling, ranting and raving like their opinion is the only right opinion. From a political angle I find that the first type leans right and the other left.

So how would anyone know you are an atheist unless you revealed it?
Ohhhhh so people who loudly and vocally espouse different viewpoints are not universally loved, and those living in primitive societies are even persecuted.
I guess keeping your mouth shut is too much to ask.

Considering how atheist groups in this country sympathized and defended Stalin’s and Mao’s wholesale persecution of Christians and Jews… and how modern atheist groups are using the state to expurgate Judeo-Christian faiths and culture, it’s hard for me to feel much sympathy.

theCork on February 26, 2013 at 11:30 AM

I’ll call “Shenanigans” on this. If, by “atheist” you mean communist/socialist then, yes, but they did so because Stalin was a LEFTIST, as were they, not because they were opposed to Christianity. But if you’d care to point out those organizations that were Atheist first and foremost, that supported such persecutions I’d be happy to consider revising my objection. Arguably there atheists who didn’t like MLK, being a Christian, but they were more than likely Kl@n members, who weren’t going to like MLK, any way….so to the “atheists” you cite.

So, it doesn’t seem to bother (at least enough to protest) this group that the countries in question will kill someone for being a Christian, Jew, Hindu or Buddhist but kill them for being atheist and, hey, that’s going over the line.

What has the world come to when an Entitled First World Hipster can’t proclaim his/her superiority over the local hicks? If I can’t go to Ulan Bator/Wetumpka and loudly proclaim that your yurt/hovel is hardly a model of modern culture, lacking in irony, and vegan cuisine, and pointing out that your silly superstitious beliefs have absolutely no relevance in the Modern World, then most assuredly my Human Rights HAVE been violated! I expect a sternly worded letter from the UN and a letter of abject apology from the headman/mayor of Ulan Bator/Wetumpka.

Where were the atheists speaking out for protecting persecuted Christians? Zzz. Wake me up when they do and maybe I’ll wake up and join their cause. But that would mean they need to stop their own persecution of US Christians.

Where were the atheists speaking out for protecting persecuted Christians? Zzz. Wake me up when they do and maybe I’ll wake up and join their cause. But that would mean they need to stop their own persecution of US Christians.

AH_C on February 26, 2013 at 12:45 PM

Hold that train right there….Who says they haven’t been speaking out? Point out where atheists have been lax in supporting human rights?

And your last bit is just as over-the-top as the atheist’s….”persecution of US Christians”, really? No the death penalty for conversion or promotion of Christianisty is PERSECUTION, so let’s park our hi horse, for a minute.

I knew, even before I came to this page, what the comments would look like. “I don’t like atheists’ point of view so who cares?” Way to live up to my low expectations, guys.

And no, it doesnt make it ok because their are some atheists who are jerks about it. I don’t hold the westboro baptist church against you so, unless you want to claim those people, don’t lump us all in. And what is with this attitude of “believe what you want, just keep your mouth shut”? Doesn’t seem to apply to people of faith, hu?

I’ve never picked a fight over religion but when it comes up I am honest about my lack of faith. I’ve met some very tolerant, open minded religous people who, while they disagree with me, are polite about the matter. Coming online, it makes me wonder if, behind that politeness, was the same kind of stuff I read on here, they just didn’t have the nerve to say it to my face. I’ll give them the benifit of the doubt. I’d hate to think it was just a mask that Christians wear.

Well Snake sorry if you been offended…I thought one good point was, that IF you don’t proclaim your atheism, you’re not going to have problems in Afghanistan….because Afghanistan isn’t LA, and if atheists think it IS going to be LA any time soon, they are living in a dream world. Further they’d have done better to make the plea for “tolerance” in general. As is pointed out, the places they cite “persecute” ANYONE who isn’t Muslim…so it isn’t being Atheist that’s the problem.